State of Markets – WA September 2012

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

South Hedland to get housing boost
Western Australia’s economic growth has led to a housing injection for more than 5,000 people in South Hedland, regional development and lands minister Brendon Grylls announced recently.

The state government initiative underpinning the move involves the development of seven residential investment opportunities worth more than $1.5 billion.

South Hedland’s Western Edge project will bring an extra 2,300 dwellings, while 1,000 new people are moving into the state every week.

“In responding to the housing needs of the Pilbara, LandCorp is launching expressions of interests for a grouped housing site at Baynton West in

Karratha, which will deliver much needed housing for the town, and the 226-hectare master planned community at Western Edge,” Mr Grylls said.
Further land and housing developments are very important to support the growing population, he said.

Gascoyne may be next FIFO hub
The Gascoyne area could become the next WA fly-in fly-out (FIFO) hub, according to a planning proposal for the area.

The release of the draft Gascoyne Regional Planning and Infrastructure Framework follows release of frameworks for the investment hotspot of the mid-west Pilbara. A similar plan for the Kimberley region is also underway.

This is the first time the entire Gascoyne region has been given planning consideration overall, said planning minister John Day.

The draft, prepared for the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) by the Department of Planning, represents the start of a coordinated approach for the area and will be an important planning tool for those looking at investment, Mr Day said.

“It follows the WAPC’s recent release of regional planning and infrastructure frameworks for the mid-west and Pilbara regions with a similar framework for the Kimberley region also being prepared.”

WAPC chairman Gary Prattley said in his foreword to the draft that the document would be crucial to the future of the area.